Paramedic Mike Cherry discusses the role played by “Rescue 38.” The Phoenix Fire Department operates three fire stations in Ahwatukee Foothills but only two have “paramedic/engines” otherwise known as ambulances. Fire Station 38 is located at 5002 E. Warner-Elliot Loop, or just west of Interstate 10.

Paramedic Mike Cherry describes some of the services provided by “Rescue 38” “ the recently eliminated ambulance based in Ahwatukee Foothills due to city budget cuts.

Budget axe cuts 1 of 2 local ambulances

Paramedic Mike Cherry discusses the role played by “Rescue 38.” The Phoenix Fire Department operates three fire stations in Ahwatukee Foothills but only two have “paramedic/engines” otherwise known as ambulances. Fire Station 38 is located at 5002 E. Warner-Elliot Loop, or just west of Interstate 10.

Paramedic Mike Cherry describes some of the services provided by “Rescue 38” “ the recently eliminated ambulance based in Ahwatukee Foothills due to city budget cuts.

Paramedic Mike Cherry describes some of the services provided by “Rescue 38” “ the recently eliminated ambulance based in Ahwatukee Foothills due to city budget cuts.

Budget cuts have resulted in the Phoenix Fire Department’s
elimination of one of two ambulances in Ahwatukee Foothills.

The change went into effect yesterday with Rescue 38, stationed
at Station 38 at Warner Road near 50th Street, going out of
service, but stored at the station.

While the number of ambulances assigned to Ahwatukee Foothills
was cut in half, the three advanced life support engine companies
staffed with paramedics, plus a ladder company, stayed the
same.

Councilman Sal DiCiccio was unhappy with the changes, but
understood the department’s need to make the budget cuts.

The ambulance cuts were part of the recently approved city
budget, which included the elimination of two full-time and one
part-time ambulance for an estimated savings of $2.2 million over
the next 15 months.

“It’s never easy to shut down any emergency service, even when
call volume is low,” said Chief Bob Kahn.

The elimination of Rescue 38 leaves the centrally located Rescue
43 at Chandler Boulevard near 40th Street as the only ambulance for
the 80,000 people spread out over 35 square miles in Ahwatukee
Foothills.

One recommendation DiCiccio made was that Rescue 38 will stay in
the station, although unmanned, so that it would be available in an
emergency.

Also cut was Rescue 57 near 16th Avenue and Dobbins Road.

Assistant Chief Todd Harms said the action was based upon call
volume and the availability of a backup ambulance nearby.

“Wherever you look, the ambulances are running eight to 10 calls
for transport each (24-hour) shift,” said Harms. But in the
Ahwatukee Foothills area Rescue 38 and 43 had about three calls
each, a day, some of the lowest call volumes in the city.

Now that the ambulance has been mothballed, but still available
at Station 38 for an emergency, Harms said fire officials will
closely watch the situation in the months to come.

“We’ll evaluate this month by month and look at the call volume
and the stats for out there and see what the guys tell us,” Harms
said.

“The elimination of these two ambulances will have an impact on
the system, because we are taking two ambulances out,” he said.
“But the strength of the system is that Rescue 32, while it is
about four or five miles away (near 40th Street and Baseline Road),
is still in a good position to provide service there.”

The Phoenix Fire Department has seen budget cuts over the last
three years, totaling $45 million.

The most recent city budget originally called for the
elimination of six engine companies, plus a ladder company. But
with firefighters leading the way on wage concessions and the
council’s expansion of the sales tax onto food, the cuts were
reduced.

DiCiccio continued his call for basic changes in worker benefits
to cut down the high cost of labor, which averages around $100,000
per employee in wages and benefits.

“Unless we make structural financial changes we will constantly
have this problem and it all revolves around labor costs,” DiCiccio
said.

Watch this discussion.Stop watching this discussion.

(0) comments

Welcome to the discussion.

Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd,
racist or sexually-oriented language.PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another
person will not be tolerated.Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone
or anything.Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism
that is degrading to another person.Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on
each comment to let us know of abusive posts.Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness
accounts, the history behind an article.